Transport · 4 March 2026 · 4 min read
Can A Recovery Company Transport A Non-Runner?
Yes — but the details matter. What an operator needs to know before collecting a vehicle that will not start, roll or steer.
Non-runner is not one condition
A car that will not start but rolls freely is a straightforward flatbed job. A car with seized brakes, flat tyres and a locked steering column after years in a garage is a very different task requiring winching, skates and more time.
The five questions to answer
Before booking, work out the answers to these:
- Does the engine start at all?
- Does it roll in neutral, or is it seized?
- Does the steering turn?
- Do the brakes release?
- Are the tyres holding air?
Access is usually the real obstacle
Getting a non-runner out of a single garage with a narrow entrance, off gravel, or down a steep driveway is often harder than the journey itself. Photographs of the vehicle and its surroundings answer most questions instantly.
MOT, tax and insurance
A vehicle being transported on a truck does not need to be MOT'd or taxed for the journey. That is precisely why non-runner transport exists.
Keep reading
More recovery advice
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What To Do If Your Car Breaks Down
A calm, practical order of actions for the moment your car stops — where to stop, how to stay safe and what to tell a recovery operator.
Safety
What To Do If You Break Down On A Motorway
Motorway breakdowns are the highest-risk situation a driver faces. Here is the sequence that keeps you safe, including on smart motorways.
Advice
How Much Does Car Recovery Cost?
What actually drives the price of a recovery or transport job, and why a quote over the phone needs a few specific details.
Broken down right now?
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